Chipotle Mexican Grill is looking to cash in one of the busiest food delivery days of the year by offering free doorstep delivery of its custom burritos on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Denver-based fast-casual chain, which continues to fight a long battle to regain the trust of consumers following multiple food safety scares at its restaurants, is working with Postmates to offer free delivery Friday, Feb. 2, through Sunday, Feb. 4.

Delivery is available in 40 major metro areas in the U.S. where Postmates delivers, including the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County.

“We know a large part of the country is going to be getting game day ready this weekend, and we want to help fuel that energy with real food, made from real ingredients, handed off right at their door,” Curt Garner, chief digital and information officer at Chipotle, said in a statement.

Garner called the promotion a creative partnership “to ensure we are there for our customers when and where they want us.”

Analysts and investors might see it another way.

The company plans to report its fourth quarter and year-end earnings on Tuesday. Results are projected to be shaky as the company faces “weakening momentum” after another food scare in December, Nomura analyst Mark Kalinowski said this week.

“Chipotle has suffered through a number of self-inflicted wounds over the last few years, the latest of which appears to have been a possible outbreak of illnesses tied to a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA in December,” he wrote in a report to investors this week.

Analyst firm Cowen & Co. also cited deteriorating foot traffic in January, based on an in-depth analysis of Facebook check-ins.

Tim Powell, a retail and food analyst at Q1 Consulting in Chicago, said the Postmates promotion is another “last ditch” effort to boost dwindling foot traffic.

Food safety concerns have had a “big damning effect on Chipotle,” he said.

Still, one analyst is betting on a Chipotle recovery.

“We still anticipate a return of more robust sales and earnings growth in the next few quarters, and believe a retreat in commodity costs following higher costs in 2017 and restaurant-level efficiency gains should reinforce margin expansion,” Maxim Group restaurant analyst Stephen Anderson said.

Darren Tristano, of consulting firm Foodservice Industry Perspectives, said Chipotle’s promotion is a good way to get consumers familiar with the delivery process.

“I just think it’s an opportunity to take advantage of a heavy ordering occasion, providing service to increase their marketshare for those days,” said the Illinois-based restaurant consultant.

To take advantage of the free Postmates delivery this weekend, diners must enter the code “chipotlebowl” at the checkout. The free delivery offer is not valid for catering orders. Delivery fees at Postmates can range from $3.99 to $5.99, according to the company’s website.

Another leading third-party food delivery company, UberEats, is also offering its own Super Bowl deal this weekend. However, this one is limited to Southern California.

Starting Friday, UberEats is partnering with restaurants to offer $5 meal specials. To find the discounted meals, consumers can enter #FirstFridays on the app to locate a list of participating Southern California restaurants with special $5 deals. The promotion is available through Sunday.

Nancy Luna is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. She's been the Register's restaurant beat writer since 2005, covering some of the biggest players in the industry: In-N-Out, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Luna also covers dining trends from food halls to food trucks. She writes with authority and is considered an expert in her field.